"I grew up with bad weather" - Irishman Eddie Dunbar thriving at cold and wet Giro d'Italia

For the first time in his career, Eddie Dunbar is firmly in the general classification battle in a Grand Tour. Although in Italy, the weather has been something Dunbar grew accustomed to growing up in Ireland.

“I tolerate it. Obviously, I grew up with bad weather, but I don’t want to race in it, nobody does," the 26-year-old leader of Team Jayco AlUla told Cycling News as the race reaches its second rest day. "Anyone who says they do is talking shite, basically.”

Currently sitting in 8th position in the general classification, Dunbar still holds an outside hope of taking home the famed Maglia Rosa. As mentioned though this is his first crack at the GC battle in a Grand Tour and just his second-ever three-week stage race so this third week remains something of the unknown to the Irishman.

“I think the main thing in a Grand Tour is being consistently good every day. If you can avoid the bad days and limit your losses where you can, I think you’re always going to be there or thereabouts in the fight,” he explains. "Obviously, it’s only my second Grand Tour. It’s a learning experience for the team on how I work and I’m still learning myself how I work in these circumstances.”

“I don’t think anyone wants to give away anything on this Giro. No one knows what’s around the corner, so that’s probably why it’s being raced in the style that it is,” Dunbar continues. “But there’s three days next week that are going to sort the men from the boys, I think you could say. Let’s see how that goes. I think that’s where you’re going to see the real fireworks. Anyone who’s been conservative can make a big difference next week, and I think everyone knows that, hence the racing you’re seeing.”